Dr. Grisel Lopez-Escobar, PhD (in Counseling),
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Providing Virtual Therapy to Adult Clients
in the States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, ME, NV, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WI & WY, USA
Specializing in Supporting Clients who are Newly Secular or Deconstructing from High Control Religions, Groups or Cults: Religious Trauma / Faith Crisis, Religious Deconstruction / Purity Culture / Religious Residue / Mixed-Faith Relationships / Secular Therapy
Scripture PTSD
Trauma responses (e.g., flashbacks, anxiety) triggered by certain religious verses or texts due to past harm
You feel nauseous when hearing specific verses used in sermons.
Reading religious texts brings back memories of spiritual abuse.
You avoid church because Scripture readings feel threatening.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
PTSD symptoms such as avoidance, hypervigilance, and flashbacks may occur.
Emotional dysregulation can happen in spiritual settings.
Complicated grief or moral injury may be tied to sacred texts.
Scrupulosity
A form of OCD where a person obsesses about being morally or spiritually perfect
You pray over and over because you’re afraid you didn’t do it “right.”
You constantly confess, just in case you missed a sin.
You feel intense guilt even when you’ve done nothing wrong.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors may interfere with daily life.
Spiritual practices may be avoided out of overwhelming fear.